Advisory, In Effect...

Here in New York we have had a Wind Advisory in effect between Wednesday and today. It is an event where the general public is notified of potentially damaging winds, and advised on what to do and what not to do.

We as believers are under an advisory of sorts: not a temporary one like the high winds we've experienced, but a permanent one that has eternal consequences. Pastor Joy shared with us this past Sunday, and I quote, two related advisories:

1) "There is no love where there is no obedience."

2) "How will we know the experience of overflowing joy if we're not obedient?" 

It is a profound thing to reflect on. The discourse found in John chapter 15 is not given to the masses, but to the few who have devoted themselves to participation in Jesus's ministry. And what did He say to them? He said, in essence, "Guys, do what I tell you. Love like I love you." (see John 15:10-14)

The implication is that we, the ones who claim closeness to Christ, are just as prone to disobedience as the Judas Iscariots of the world. If nothing else, this reality should keep us anchored in humility and desperately petitioning God for His grace and mercy.

Isaiah foretold it. Like sheep, we have all gone astray; we have all wandered off to do our own thing; and the Sovereign Lord has poured our sinfulness onto the Sinless One, our Lord Jesus. (see Isaiah 53:6) We are in need of the constant redemptive work of Christ in us, through His Spirit.

What can we bring to the table? Obedience. To the obedient soul, our Christ pours out the fruit of His Spirit. That is, we love the unlovely; we display joy even in our greatest hour of darkness; we exude peace in the midst of a chaotic world. 

Yes, Lord! As we say "Yes" in grateful, loving, joyful obedience to You, we beg You to fulfill Your word in us. Cause us to exclusive love of You. Cause us to be exceedingly joyful in You. Cause us to experience peace from You. And cause us to demonstrate these attributes as a testimony of Your greatness, so that the world will be drawn in to Your saving life. Amen.

Time Piece.

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Joy shared that there is an analog clock in the main office that does not work. That is, it shows the correct time twice per day, but at any other time the clock is inaccurate. However, despite its inaccuracy, it's a beautiful clock.

She used the story of the clock as an example of what we sometimes experience in the community of faith. There are those persons who, if caught at the "right" time of day, appear to be firmly connected to the vine, who is Christ. However, a closer inspection over time reveals that the persons are not connected, but are actually branches that have not remained in Him; they are withering, and their ultimate end is to be gathered up as deadwood and cast into the fire (see John 15).

In referring to the office clock, Pastor Joy said: "It is decorative, but not productive." And her comment bears reflection. When we hear that someone or something is unproductive, we tend to think of analogies related to sloth or laziness or poor performance. But in Christendom, we are saturated with beautiful people and bustling programs. Like the disconnected branch lingering near the vine, everything looks great.

But our sense of "production" is not measured in activity, nor is it measured in performance. It is measured in produce: the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which was mentioned in yesterday's blog post. We hear the command of Jesus: Remain in Me. It is not a call to the knowing of intellect; it is a call to the knowing of intimacy. Intimacy with Christ is proven by the fruit we bear.

Our pastor reminded us that, according to John 15:7 and 15:8, intimacy with Christ is accomplished through consistent closeness to Him and total dependence on Him. He alone is the means through which we can experience abundant life and eternal life. His Spirit is the only means by which we, having sown in intimacy, reap in true productivity.

Lord, give us grace to experience intimacy with You, so that our lives might show the fruit of Your Spirit at work in and through us. Help us to be truly productive: not just every once in a while, but consistently, every moment of the day, to the glory of Your name. Amen.

Staying Put.

In John 15, Jesus uses the analogy of a vine and branches to describe our optimal relationship with Him and His Father, our God. God, as Gardener, is the One who has provided expert care. In His great love He has given us Jesus, the Only Son, so that we might experience abundant life in and through Him. In turn, Jesus has given us His Spirit, the One through which we are encouraged in the faith, reminded of the Truth, and warned not to falter nor wander.

Our pastor shared with us that, as Christians, our residence is in Christ through His Spirit. It is the place where we are fed and trained and pruned for optimal growth. Our role in the process is to be obedient, fully submitted to the will of God. What has He said through our Christ? "Remain in Me and I will remain in you." (see John 15:4)

Pastor Joy spoke of the passage in Galatians 5 where we find a list of the fruit of the Spirit, those character traits that demonstrate our connection to Christ. These are traits that the believer expresses to friends, enemies, and strangers. Why? Because we love in the same way that our Lord loves.

It is the act of remaining in Christ that gives us courage and power to live like Him even when in an environment that shows Him hatred and distrust. Pastor Joy gave the example of persons who, though they work and live in difficult circumstances, faithfully display the fruit of the Spirit as a testimony of God's goodness and greatness. Our remaining in Christ does not mean that life will be easy, but in the midst of challenges it is still a life of rest in Him.

Pastor Joy also noted that, in classic demonic fashion, there are those who linger in the vineyard though their lives indicate that they are not connected to Christ. That is, there is no evidence of His character in them. This was reflected upon in yesterday's blog, but I'd like to remind us that Galatians 5 also contains a second list of characteristics: the traits of those who do not display the fruit of the Spirit. As has been said many times, there is no grey area: either we are in Christ, supporting His agenda with our whole beings, or we are subverting His agenda and purpose through our choice to live by ourselves instead of living in Him.

For today, then, let us reflect on the Galatians passage prayerfully, asking the question our pastor asked us: "Where do I reside?"

Lord, help us to cling to You, our True Vine. Help us to authentically renounce the works of the flesh and to remain attached to You, that we might authentically display the fruit of the Spirit. Amen.

Galatians 5: 13-26

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. 

But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.

Hearing Versus Heeding.

“If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned.” (John 15:6)

 In yesterday’s sermon, Pastor Joy spoke on John chapter 15. It is a familiar text to many Christians, perhaps so familiar that we hear it without hearing it. It is the loving explanation and warning that Jesus gives not to the multitude, but to eleven of His disciples (Judas Iscariot, who had already left the Passover dinner to betray Jesus, was not part of the conversation).

What has Jesus said to His closest friends? I call you My friends because I have let you in on the knowledge of who I am and what I am doing. But if you choose to ignore My commands to you, then your mere friendship will not be sufficient for entry into heaven. If you don’t personally obey My commands, then My kingdom will have no use for your presence.

Pastor Joy made a profound analogy about the behavior of untrained branches. When they wander, they never wander alone. They pull adjacent branches with them; they ruin the aesthetic beauty of the entire plant; they take the nutrients that were intended for growth in the right direction and use them to induce growth in the wrong direction. This is the prophetic picture of those of us in the Eleven, the specially called who sit for years at the feet of Jesus, but who for some reason decide that disobedience is a viable option.

Our pastor brought up the fact that God, throughout time and in multiple ways, keeps sending the same message to Bronx Bethany. Why? Because He is kind and compassionate and patient. But be assured, He is the great God who keeps His word. If He warns of destruction and we ignore Him, we do so to our own peril.

He is the Vine, God is the gardener, we are the branches. Lord God, we are happy and honored to submit to Your will. Subject us to Your training and pruning, for the glory of Your name.

A Pitch For Perfection.

In this past Sunday's sermon Pastor Richie gave a wonderfully clear explanation of Christian perfection. It is not that we do all the right things; it is not that we adopt a set of external behaviors in an effort to "look" holy. It is that we have completely surrendered our entire beings to the Spirit of God, and He therefore has complete freedom to work in and through us as He sees fit. And, as He works in and through us, He causes us to look and act more like Christ.

It is so important, too, that we continue reflecting on the aspect of Christian love in relation to perfection. What has our Lord said? "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15, italics mine). In other words, we do not keep His commandments because we are trying to avoid hell. We don't keep His commandments with a sour and grudgeful attitude. We do what He says because we love Him.

About thirty years ago I met a singer named Pete Carlson, whose ministry God used as a chisel to start chipping away at my stony heart. As I recall some of his lyrics now, I see in them a call to pursue holiness based on an incredible love relationship with Jesus. As we continue in our pursuit of holiness, let us chase after perfection and love: perfect (complete) surrender to our God, and perfect (exclusive) love towards Him.

Show me what's inside
By showing me your life.
You can't hide or deny;
'Cause if there's really love there, within,
It will show its face by how you choose to live.
Is it showing in your life?
Is it more than just a smile? (P. Carlson)

Permanent Markers.

During the night Jacob quickly took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream along with all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone. Then a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he could not defeat Jacob, he struck the socket of his hip so the socket of Jacob’s hip was dislocated while he wrestled with him. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” “I will not let you go,” Jacob replied, “unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” He answered, “Jacob.” “No longer will your name be Jacob,” the man told him, “but Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, “Please tell me your name.” “Why do you ask my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. So Jacob named the place Peniel, explaining, “Certainly I have seen God face to face and have survived.” (Genesis 32:22-30)

Pastor Richie reminded us that, in the encounter with the angel of the LORD, Jacob experienced profound change. We, too, can experience profound change. To paraphrase our pastor, "We keep pressing until God leaves a permanent mark."

A protracted engagement with God. The Scripture passage above tells us that Jacob wrestled through the night until daybreak. This theme of engagement with God through the night is also demonstrated in the life of Jesus (see Luke 6:12).

A petition "enforced" by action. Jacob said "I will not let you go unless you bless me," and Jacob followed through on the petition by not letting go. His desire to receive a blessing empowered him to continue holding on, even though the wrestling match had gone on for several hours.

A personality change explained in nomenclature. In biblical times, it was not unusual for a person's name to describe their nature. So, the change of name from Jacob (supplanter) to Israel (prevailer) was a permanent testimony of the work that God had done.

A physical challenge experienced openly. When the angel of the LORD touched the socket of Jacob's hip, Jacob's walk was changed permanently. Anyone who saw him from that day forward would know, even without Jacob's speaking, that something profound had happened to him.

LORD, give us grace to spend countless hours in communion with You.

LORD, give us strength to tarry in prayer for the promise of Your blessing.

LORD, give us character that lines up with the special name You call us.

LORD, give us wisdom to know that we can't even walk without Your help.

The Lane, The Pace, The Life-long Race.

I'm praying loud; Lord, I'm praying, trying to make a hundred
Ninety-nine and a half won't do... (E. Floyd/W. Pickett/S. Cropper)

During this past Sunday's sermons, Pastor Richie spoke on the analogy of running a race. One point he mentioned was that, as runners, we don't run to beat the other runners: we run our best time with the goal of winning the race.

Another point our pastor mentioned was that the apostle Paul frequently used footrace analogies in his letters. In Philippians 3, we have the following:

"My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let those of us who are “perfect” embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways. Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard that we have already attained." (Philippians 3:10-16)

Our pastor shared with us that, in essence, Paul is saying: Guys, I am still running, I am still pushing myself, I am focused on the finish line. I want to end this race well... I want to win. I don't want to fall back, I don't want to slack off. I've run a lot of miles and have seen some gains, but I want to see myself looking more and more like Jesus. I love Him so much, and I long to know Him in increasing intimacy.

What is your goal? Sometimes we emulate certain musicians or ministers who live lives of holiness, but they are not the benchmark of holiness. Paul says, "I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Jesus, full of the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, perfect picture of grace in the midst of sufferings.

Jesus, our Royal High Priest and Intercessor.

Jesus, help us to look more like You.

Pursued... Pursuing.

Pastor Richie shared some things during this past Sunday's sermon that gave us a glimpse of God's amazing love. While I will not recount the specific incidents he referred to, I will summarize the outcome of those incidents.

A correcting love. At times, God gets our attention and speaks to us in love concerning our standing with Him. In a season where we are not giving Him any attention, He nonetheless attends to us, reveals our fallen state, and points us to the way of holiness.

A choosing love. Our God holds the option concerning who does what in this world. And, for some of us, moments come in which He floods our soul with His glorious Presence. He tells us what we are destined to do for the advancement of His kingdom.

A captivating love. Whether expressed through His correction of error or His choosing of someone for a particular work, the love of God captivates us. When we become aware of the depths of His love, it becomes impossible to continue embracing and emulating things, people, or systems that stand in opposition to His Word.

If we truly and deeply love the One who loves us, then we will respond to His love with gratitude and joyful obedience.

Do you love Him? Does it show?

I passed by you and saw you polluted in your own blood. I spoke to you: "Live, live." I blessed you with life and growth and development. When you came of age I washed you clean and anointed you. I clothed you. I gifted you. I entered into covenant with you. I blessed you with prosperity and fame. I pursued you: it is now for you to pursue Me. Do not reject My love. Do not ignore My word. Do not forsake My way. (see Ezekiel 16)

Love Lives Here!

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Richie made mention of the late Mildred Bangs Wynkoop (d. 1997), a theologian who described holiness as not merely the absence of sin, but the presence of love.

In considering our walk with the Lord, we are reminded that He desires perfect love from us. Our pastor referred to Psalm 27:4: "I have asked God for one thing, my constant desire, the one thing I keep craving, the desire that rules me: to remain in the LORD's house every day of my life, to be found gazing on His beauty, asking Him questions and seeking His answers in His Temple."

An interesting thing about Psalm 27:4 is that David makes reference to a temple, but the temple of Solomon had not yet been constructed. Perhaps we, in this verse, see a flash of David's faith and passion, a hint of his desire to see a permanent place designated for the worship of his great God (see First Chronicles 17).

I think that is a good analogy for us to reflect on. In the lifetimes of Moses and David, the tabernacle was portable. The wood and curtains would be set up, taken down, set up, taken down. But, early in the reign of King Solomon, a beautiful temple was constructed-- a structure designed for permanence.

The Scripture says that, now, we are the temple of the living God, the place designed for His Spirit to dwell (see First Corinthians 6:19). But, are we treating our bodies like a temple, His permanent place, or are we treating our bodies like a tabernacle, where we at will opt to set up a temporary space for God (then hours later deconstruct it while wandering off to pursue other loves, then re-set it when we want or need something that only He can give, then deconstruct it again...)?

Pastor Richie shared with us that a sign of holiness is that we have a singleness of heart. God has no competitor, no rival. God has found a permanent dwelling place in those of us who have completely given ourselves to Him. We are perfected in love because we have agreed with God: "I am the LORD your God... you shall have no other god beside Me." Amen.

Lord, grant us a deep desire to be found in perfect love: an exclusive desire for You that signals to the world that it is possible, and necessary, to live lives of holiness.

Love, Letters, And A Run Around The Block.

In yesterday's sermon, Pastor Richie shared an observation: many Christians, though claiming to love God, don't read His word.

His comment reminded me of my younger days, when part of the Sunday School experience included memorizing blocks of verses, and even chapters, of Scripture. Although we as children did not have a deep comprehension of the words we were learning, we were engaged in an exercise that would be part of our "keeping" process as adults. As the Psalm says, "Make my footsteps steady in Your word; do not let any sin control me" (see Psalm 119:133).

His comment was reinforced at the end of the service, as we celebrated the accomplishments of some of our children who won awards for Scripture verse memorization. We applaud those who engage the word of God in their youth.

What hinders us from absorbing and obeying the word of God as adults? Perhaps it is that we have abandoned our first love, and therefore we do not long to read the letters He has written us. Perhaps it is that we are not concerned about sin's insidiousness, and therefore we do not seek to escape its control. Perhaps we are consumed with other things, and therefore the spiritual discipline of Scripture reading is not on our "short list" of what to accomplish in a given day.

Below is Philippians chapter 3, which was read in its entirety at the start of the sermon. May I encourage us all to take a verse, or a block of verses, and "run" with it today?

Keep it in your mind; write it down and read it while stuck in traffic or standing on line; go for broke and memorize some or all of it. (See Joshua 1:8)

The Lover of our souls has written us a Book of love. Let us read it and fall in love with Him again.


Philippians 3

Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To write this again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials – though mine too are significant. If someone thinks he has good reasons to put confidence in human credentials, I have more: I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. I lived according to the law as a Pharisee. In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless. But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ.

More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things – indeed, I regard them as dung! – that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness– a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness. My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let those of us who are “perfect” embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways. Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard that we have already attained.

Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example. For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.

"Taylor"-Made.

It is always a treat when I get the chance to hear the sermon in all three English-language services at Bronx Bethany. Although the scripture references and the outlines are the same, God has a way of adjusting what our pastors say, thus tailoring the message for each service.

That said, below are a few quotes and notes from Pastor Althea's message at The Key, our service held on Saturday nights. (Some of these points were reinforced at the Sunday services, others were not.)

• "There's nothing we can do to merit how good You are to us."
• "The holiness piece is the crux of the matter."
• What does "winning" look like?
• We accept that Jesus came to renew the image of God in us.
• Holiness is a lifelong process.
• God protects us in love; God enables us to live in moral uprightness; God empowers us to serve.
• Our lifelong goal is Christ-likeness in every thought, word, and deed.
• Second Corinthians 3:18: we move into ever-increasing glory.
• "In Christ, we get over the hurdle and keep moving."
• The thing we are pursuing eventually grabs hold of us... what are you pursuing?

Lord God, thank You for sending Your word to encourage us. Give us a deep desire to demonstrate joyful obedience to Your word. We love You and thank You for continuing to save, keep, fill, and teach us. May You be glorified. In Jesus's name we pray and ask Your help. Amen.

Depth Wish.

"Are you jealous on account of me?" Moses asked in reply. "I wish all of the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!" (Numbers 11:29)

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea mentioned several ways through which Christians are continually transformed into the likeness and image of God:

The work is accomplished in Christ. Hebrews 10:19-23 reminds us that since Jesus already knows everything about us, we don't have to pretend around Him. We can approach Him with transparency and honesty. His work on the cross has shown the world His faithfulness and obedience to the Father: He can help us to fully obey, even as He did.

The work is bolstered in community. Although our conversion experience and our crisis experience are worked out individually, we are reminded that the body of Christ is a corporate entity. Growing up in the faith requires a corporate commitment (see Hebrews 10:24-31).

The work is continued in faith. We are dependent upon God's grace and mercy as He increases our faith. He is powerful and capable to sustain us through the trials that come as part of the Christian growth process. We believe what Jesus has said concerning Himself, and we believe that His Spirit will sustain us just as He sustains all who have lived by faith through the ages (see Hebrews 10:32 - 11:2).

Lord, help us to grow up in You.

Case Study: Simon Magus.

Reading: Acts 8:9-24

8:9 Now in that city was a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic and amazing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.

8:10 All the people, from the least to the greatest, paid close attention to him, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called ‘Great.’”
8:11 And they paid close attention to him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.
8:12 But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women.
8:13 Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized, he stayed close to Philip constantly, and when he saw the signs and great miracles that were occurring, he was amazed.

[NOTE: The Philip mentioned here is not Philip the apostle, but Philip the deacon (see Acts 6:1-6)]

QUESTION 1: Was Simon Magus a real Christian? What is the evidence of his faith in Jesus? (see Acts 8:12-13)

8:14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
8:15 These two went down and prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit.
8:16 (For the Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
8:17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on the Samaritans, and they received the Holy Spirit.

QUESTION 2: What does Acts 8:15-16 mean to you?

8:18 Now Simon, when he saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, offered them money,
8:19 saying, “Give me this power too, so that everyone I place my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
8:20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire God’s gift with money!
8:21 You have no share or part in this matter because your heart is not right before God!
8:22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that he may perhaps forgive you for the intent of your heart.
8:23 For I see that you are bitterly envious and in bondage to sin.”


QUESTION 3: Peter mentions five indictments to Simon Magus: 1) a heart that is not right before God; 2) attempting to buy God's free gift; 3) wickedness; 4) envy; 5) bondage to sin (see Acts 8:20-23). Do you think there is a relationship between these indictments and Simon's self-proclaimed greatness (see Acts 8:9)? If so, what is it?


8:24 But Simon replied, “You pray to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.”

QUESTION 4: What does Simon Magus's prayer request indicate to you about the effectiveness of apostolic prayer (see Acts 8:24)?


QUESTION 5: Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed in Jesus?

Really A Road Less Traveled.

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:19)

Pastor Althea shared her own story of the crisis experience that changed her life. For those of us who embrace Wesleyan-Holiness doctrine, we believe that there comes a point in the life of a believer where he says, “I believe in Jesus but I am noticing that there is no real distinction between the way I live and the way non-Christians live. I recognize that I need to pray for God to help me, by the power of His Spirit, so that I can look more and more like Him every day.”

Yesterday I was looking at a website of a church which was a strong supporter of the legalization of same-sex marriage for New York State residents. Throughout their web pages was a recurring theme: When you come to our church, you’re guaranteed to find people here who are just like you. We’ll accept you as you are and you are welcome to remain just as you are. Hmm. I have been looking for references to Jesus on their web pages. I have not found Him there yet.

No, friends, do not go to church looking to find “people”. And do not enter into the Christian faith with an expectation that you will remain “just as you are.” We come to Christ as we are, but as we learn of Christ’s character we’re encouraged to step onto the path of becoming who He is. As our pastor noted, there is a gradual, measurable, noticeable change in character that accompanies the walk of the believer who is submitted to the Spirit of God.

The book of James, a letter to the scattered diaspora of Jewish believers, is filled with exhortations asking the believers to move from mere assent of Jesus as Lord to engagement of a lifestyle that reflects His character. James says:

• Be joyful when trials come your way.
• Ask God to give you wisdom.
• Remember, all good gifts are from the Father.
• Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry.
• Get rid of all moral filth.
• Humbly accept the word that was planted in you; it can save you.
• Don’t just listen to the word; do what it says.
• If you’re religious and a slanderer, your religion is worthless.
• God is interested in how you treat the poor.
• God wants you to keep yourself from being polluted by the world.

And, those ten urgings are only from the first chapter of James. The remaining chapters contain many more urgings: again, not written to pagans, but to persons who have already made a confession of faith in Jesus Christ.

So, what sort of a life are you living? And who are you living for?

Nazarene Scene.

In this past weekend's English-language services, Pastor Althea began a sermon series on our 2013 theme Pursuing Holiness... Promoting Healing. At the heart of the message was a clear prophetic statement: Bronx Bethany, you need to know what it means to be holy. And you need to act on what you know, because a mere head knowledge of the essence of holiness will not keep you in these trying times. You need to recapture the reality of holiness in your everyday living, as individuals and as a corporate body.

Pastor Althea began the sermon by referring to Hebrews 10:19-39. We were reminded that the image of Christ Jesus can and will be seen in us as we submit our lives to Him.

The sermon was of the sort where it is tempting to say, "I wish so-and-so had been here because they really needed to hear this..."-- but as we reflect on our pastor's message over the course of this week, let us be diligent to hold the lighted mirror to our own faces. As was said in the sermon, our usefulness in the church and in the world is directly correlated to our faith. It is an individual measurement with corporate consequences.

This is a challenging prospect. If we are to be honest and forthright, some of us would have to say that we are not Wesleyan-Holiness at heart. We are in Bronx Bethany not because we are Nazarene, but because we like the music and the preaching. We are in Bronx Bethany to stay connected with friends or classmates or culture. But have we taken any significant time to contemplate what it really means for us to be Nazarene, a holiness people navigating the second century of our faith tradition?

We are a holiness people. We believe that what was lost in the garden of Eden's failure has been reclaimed in the garden of Gethsemane's success. Adam built in us a penchant for ignoring God's long-term plan and instead chasing short-term gratifications. Jesus has provided the example of enduring sufferings in our "short-term" life as we anticipate Eternity in the glorious presence of God. And, amazingly, the suffering saint is enabled to reflect the glory and beauty of Jesus while this process is underway. As our pastor said, and I paraphrase, as we embrace holiness, people won't see us. They will see Jesus.

While we certainly don't want to isolate ourselves from the corporate body of Christ throughout the world, we do want to fully embrace the call to holiness which is particular to the Nazarene faith tradition. As Pastor Althea shared, it is not a call to good works performed in our own strength: it is a call to submit ourselves to God so that His image can be formed in us. Amen. If our Lord says "Be holy because I am holy", what better answer can we give Him than a joyful, obedient "Yes"?

Come, Desire of Nations, come,
Fix in Us Thy humble Home;
Rise, the Woman's Conquering Seed,
Bruise in Us the Serpent's Head.

Now display Thy saving Pow'r,
Ruined Nature now restore,
Now in Mystic Union join
Thine to Ours, and Ours to Thine.

Adam's likeness, LORD, efface,
Stamp Thine Image in its Place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy Love.

Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the Heav'nly Man:
O! to All Thyself impart,
Formed in each Believing Heart.

(from "Hymn for Christmas-Day", Charles Wesley, 1739)

Hebrews, Chapter Ten.

(NOTE: Translation is from the New American Standard Bible. Words in bold print are from the NASB footnotes, in an effort to give a clearer sense of the Greek rendering.)

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very image of things, they can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in them there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says,
 

“Sacrifice and offering You have not desired,
But a body You have prepared for Me;
In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure.
“Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come
(In the scroll of the book it is written of Me)
To do Your will, O God.’”
 

After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), then He has said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
 

Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,
 

“This is the covenant that I will make with them
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws upon their heart,
And on their mind I will write them,”

He then says,

“And their sins and their lawless deeds
I will remember no more.”
 

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.
 

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
 

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
 

But remember the former days in which, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
 

For yet in a very little while,
He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
But My righteous one shall live by faith;
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.
 

But we are not of shrinking back to destruction, but of faith to the possessing [NOTE: περιποιησιν- a purchased people; a peculiar people; an acquisition; procurement; obtaining] of the soul.

Echo. (Echo.)

Sermons aren't like watching TV. Television is primarily designed for short-term entertainment and short-term information. Sermons are what God uses to draw us to Himself and to bring salvation and the hope of eternal life, so as believers we are personally obligated to spend time thinking about (and doing) what God has said through what Scripture calls "the foolishness of preaching" (see First Corinthians 1:21). The word of God is our source of relevant information which bears eternal consequences. Because His word is eternal, as is He, it doesn't hurt us at all to spend lots of time engaged in the things that prepare us for spending eternity with Him.

The apostle Peter said, and I paraphrase, Guys, I know that you already know a great deal about the faith. But I am writing to get these scriptural truths from the back of your mind to the front of your mind (see Second Peter 1:13). It's a good thing to be reminded of what God has said, which we read in His word and hear through our pastors.

That said, below (in no particular order) are a few of the statements and thoughts from this past Sunday's sermon. I pray that as we are reminded of these things, we will seek the Lord for further insight, revelation, correction, and encouragement.

• Hebrews 12:14: Without holiness, no one will see the Lord.
• The role of the Church is to be God's instrument in healing.
• Matthew 9:35: Jesus went through cities and rural areas to teach, preach, and heal.
• The Church is called to be curative. We don't just rescue people; we bring healing to them.
• "Shalom is the goal of God for society."
• Holiness has two dimensions: exclusive ownership and accurate reflection/representation.
• All those who can't say "no" will not see God; "the grace of God teaches us to say no to ungodliness".
• Jesus died "to purify for Himself a people that are His very own."
• "If you are pursuing holiness, you will want to do what is good."
• "Ownership is for the purpose of reflection."
• Second Corinthians 3: We gaze at Christ and are transformed.
• "Who owns you?"

Lord, give us grace to hear and obey You as You confront us with our need to be holy and to be agents of Your healing.

You Tell Them What I Said.

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. (First Peter 2:11)

In First Peter 2, the apostle Peter reminds his readers of the promises extended to ancient Israel and urged them to choose obedience over self-indulgence. In time past, God told Moses to give the people of God a message: "'Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." (Exodus 19:5-6) Thousands of years later, the message echoes in our hearing: I have called you to be My treasured possession, but take heed to My words: If you obey Me fully. If you keep My covenant.

On this past Sunday I was a little challenged by our use of the new term "frakes" (a combination of the words "frauds" and "fakes") because I know someone whose last name is Frakes, and that person is neither fraud nor fake. But the intent behind the term is a Scriptural truth: good trees bear good fruit, and corrupt trees bear corrupt fruit. The fig tree cursed by Christ looked great from a distance-- but a closer inspection revealed that in spite of the leafy show, the tree had been corrupted. It absorbed nutrients, depleted soil, and contaminated the landscape, giving nothing in return. It was a frake.

And, for frakes in the faith, there is a warning that we in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition take very seriously. If we take heed and obey Christ fully, then we will experience His shalom: the promise of rest, peace, tranquility, and provision. If we obey Christ partially, or not at all, then we have reneged on our part of the covenant and God is therefore not obligated to give us entrance into His shalom. Actually, it is more than God not being obligated: He has sworn that He will not turn a blind eye to disobedience. "Your fathers tested Me; they tried Me even though they had seen My works. For forty years I loathed that generation and said, 'They are are a people who err in their hearts, and do not know My ways.' Therefore I swore in My anger, 'Truly they shall not enter into My rest.'" (Psalm 95:9-11)

God said to them, and He says to us, Don't just see My works. Know My ways. Don't just hear My voice. Heed My commands. If you don't heed Me, no one will ever see Me in you; and you, in turn, will never see Me.


Lord God, You have called us to pursue holiness. Give us grace to unreservedly, completely, gladly, fully obey You.

20 + C + M + B + 13: Epiphany Indeed.

It is apropos that Bronx Bethany began its new church theme (Pursuing Holiness... Promoting Healing) on Epiphany.

In liturgical churches, Epiphany is often an homage to the Magi, persons engaged in the study of wisdom as it is declared in astronomy (see Psalm 19:1-3). Scripture informs us that these wise souls, upon seeing a particular star appear in the East, traveled a great distance to celebrate and honor the One who was born king of the Jews.

Twenty-first century believers, for the most part, are not engaged in the process of a twelve- or twenty-month journey to worship Jesus. In fact, some of us dare to complain about traveling two hours or even two miles to meet with God's people. But for others, the time spent in traveling is well worth the joy of corporate worship with fellow saints.

The journey that Bronx Bethany has been invited to undertake is not one of miles, but it is still a journey that allows us to emulate the way of the Magi: a journey of study and discovery through the word of God and prayer. It is a journey that will take time. It is a journey that will take courage and effort. And, yes, the subject is deep enough that it might easily engulf twelve months of study and leave us wanting for more.

In my first blog this week I mentioned that this year's theme is costly. For some of us, and pardon the pun, the price of being modern-day Magi might indeed be astronomical. We are pursuing holiness in the context of a culture that pursues hedonism. We are promoting healing in a culture that benefits from keeping people sick. Some of us are standing in opposition to the works of the devil, and he has a way of throwing fiery darts at the faithful. That is the price of obedience to God; a price well worth paying.

My prayer is that we will stand, shielded by faith and surrounded by faithful witnesses, ready to dive in to the depths of what it means to be holy and to live lives of holiness.

Let's go!

Yes, God, we will gladly take up Your offer. Christus, mansionem benedicat. Bless Your flock at Bronx Bethany, for the glory of Your name.

Related? Funny, You Don't Look Like Him At All.

In the transition from the sermon to the altar call Sunday afternoon, Pastor Sam said, "There are all kinds of idols that are trying to distract us and take shares."

Our pastor's statement, supported by Scripture and by history, was a reminder to us that some who serve God do not serve Him exclusively. On remembering my own struggles with serving God, my mind immediately went to the first nine chapters of Ezekiel. In those chapters, religious leaders came to Ezekiel seeking a word from the Lord. As they waited, the Lord showed Ezekiel that the leaders, though consistently engaged in temple service, had actually covenanted themselves to pagan gods. They would literally turn their backsides to the place where God's glorious Presence was resident, and would bow in worship to the sun god. Without words, their actions were saying: "God, kiss our backsides. We're not quitting our ministry jobs: we'll serve You out there when we feel like it, and we'll serve these idols in the back room here when we feel like it. Deal with it, God."

But our God is not into polygamy. He says to the idolater, just as Jesus said to the evil one: "Get behind me, Satan: for it is written, You will worship the Lord your God, and He is the only one that you will serve." (Luke 4:8, emphasis mine)

Our God has called us into exclusive relationship with Him. This goes against the grain of the world, which shies away from exclusionary terminology. The world promotes the idea of everyone being able to live as they please, and everyone being given access to heaven regardless of the way in which their lives were lived on earth. Some branches of the Church have also jumped onto the bandwagon, advertising themselves as "inclusive" (the implication being that one can attend church, and even enter ministry, without ever giving attention to the demands of Christ).

This is not a new concept. Scripture recounts the crisis of Hophni and Phineas, the sons of Eli who routinely, and publicly, ate the prohibited portions of the sacrifice and engaged in sexual intercourse with women who were hanging around near the door of the tabernacle (see First Samuel 2:22). This practice was common in the worship experience of those who served the pagan gods of fertility; it was an acting out of the people's desire for fruitfulness of lands and families. And Hophni and Phineas, rather than standing apart from the practices of society, jumped right in. It was as if their actions said, Guys, God Almighty isn't enough of a Power for you. Let's do what the pagans do; maybe their gods can help us out.

The spirit of idolatry is relentless and aggressive in its effort to fool Christians into living what they think are "compartmentalized" lives. But if we give in to the temptation to help ourselves at the table of the world, we will then cease to reflect the glory of God. Pastor Sam spoke of the crisis of carnal Christians who ask, "Can I make an appearance in the pus?", as if one can do so without being negatively affected and negatively affecting the lives of countless others. To pull a related Pastor Sam quote from a few years ago, "Sin cannot hold the glory of God." Ask any person who has seen their ministry fall apart when they attempted to juggle the life of Christ with the life of sin, and they will tell you: "No man can serve two masters." (see Matthew 6:24).

Even one share in idolatry is enough to wipe away the presence of God's glory. Like the vision of Ezekiel, we who look on can see the Presence leave the life of a person who refuses to give God exclusive place and exclusive rule. It is the echo of old Samson: their body may look the same on the outside, but in the time of crisis it becomes abundantly clear that the power of God no longer resides in them. And, like Samson, the person might not even realize the glory has departed. "I will go out as I have at other times before..." (Judges 16:20) No, Samson, you won't. Repent.

-If we pursue holiness, our lives will be a reflection of The Holy One of God, our Lord Jesus.
-If we do not pursue holiness, we will not reflect the Lord's glory, and according to Scripture we will not see Him (see Hebrews 12:14).

Oh, Lord, here we are. No riders attached, no idols in tow, no shares held by others. We are Yours, exclusively. Give us grace to pursue holiness, for the glory of Your name.

The Transformative Gaze.

(Reflecting pool at the Nassau County Museum of Art. Courtesy Long Island Daily Photo)

We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (Second Corinthians 3:13 and 3:18)

God has blessed me to meet a few people in life whose faces reflected the glory of God. And, though it is not considered polite in this culture to stare at people, I couldn't help but stare at them. I would wonder, Is this person really human? How is it that he loves so deeply? How is it that he gives himself to God so freely? And then, I would ask myself the hard questions: Will people ever see Jesus in me the way I see Jesus in this person? Can my walk with the Lord be that consistent?

It is a hard question because it cuts to the core of what I am not doing. Perhaps it is a hard question for many of us. Why was Moses's face aglow? Because he had spent time in the glorious presence of God. Some years ago in a sermon, Pastor Sam said (and I paraphrase): "Moses didn't ask God, 'Please make my face shine.' Moses asked, 'God, show me Your glory!'" But that encounter had a marker: the glory of the Lord could not be experienced by Moses without the whole community knowing he had been in the presence of God.

The Second Corinthians passage above has an interesting phrase: Moses would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from staring while the radiance was fading away. It seems that time in the presence of God brings the glow of His glory, and time apart from Him causes the radiance to fade away.

Oh, but why would we opt to spend time apart from the One we say we love so intensely, the One who we love so much that we agreed to enter into covenant with Him?

If the Lord continues to extend His mercy and grace to myself and my husband, we (and the Lord with us) will celebrate our fourteenth anniversary later this year. Time together has led us to look like each other: not necessarily in terms of our physical appearance, but in terms of our conversation, our decision-making processes, our ability to predict and reflect each other's behavior, and so on. We therefore "know" each other not just in terms of sexuality, but in every aspect of our lives.

The late Derek Prince once made an interesting comment about this. He took note that in some areas of Scripture, it would say a husband "knew" his wife. But when discussing unmarried persons, the Scripture would instead say a man "lay with" a woman. The implication being made by Prince was that the true knowing, the true depths of intimacy, are only present in the lives of those who have submitted themselves in covenant to God and to one another in marriage.

So, to return to this reality of man being able to reflect the glory of God, we ought keep in mind that such a transformation is an outflow of submission to God: our relationship with Him is distinguished by covenant. The Scripture even goes so far as to give us a covenant name-tag: The Bride of Christ. There are many persons in the earth who can do the nice things we do. (In some cases, they do it far better than we can.) They give to the poor, they save the planet, they love their neighbors... but the glory of God is not evident in them. So they give to the poor, but they also slander their leaders. They save the planet, but they also support pornography. They love their neighbors, but they also hate persons who are unlike them. And we, unless we submit ourselves fully to God, unless we have covenanted with Him, will tend towards the same double-mindedness.

We need to "know" God in the deepest, most intimate way. But if we are not spending much time in the presence of God, then how can we claim intimacy with Him?

-Lord, draw us to Yourself by Your Spirit, so that we might know You and experience Your glory.
-Lord, keep us at Your side, so that Your radiance never fades from our faces.
-Lord, give us a deep desire to spend our days and hours in Your presence.
-Lord, cause the Bronx and the world to see You on us, in us, and through us... and place in them that same longing for You. Amen.

"P.H.", Balanced.

Yesterday was the first Sunday in the new year, and our senior pastor spoke on Bronx Bethany's theme for 2013: Pursuing Holiness...Promoting Healing.

I found myself thinking, This theme carries a high price tag. But what a joy to pay the cost of personal sanctity! What a privilege to be a witness and participant in the healing power of God!

Our theme is deeply rooted in Scripture and it will take some time for us to really get into the heart of the theme. Yesterday's message (which was also shared in the Saturday night service) was a starting point. Pastor Sam shared three key Scripture verses which I would like to leave with you. My prayer is that as we reflect on these verses, we will gain a deeper understanding of the roles of holiness and healing in the Christian life.

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14, New Living Translation)

God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness. (Titus 2:11-14, The Message)

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (First Peter 2:9, New American Standard Bible)


Lord God, our Father, You have shown us love and taught us how to live according to Your will. Help us to not just read Your word, but to do what You say, so that we might have the privilege of seeing You at work in our lives on earth. We love You and we thank You for teaching us. Help us, every day, to look more and more like You. We ask this in the name of Jesus our King. Amen.

Fault! Double Fault!

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for every thing that I learned from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. (John 15:15-16)

When Jesus saw the crowd around Him, He gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to Him and said, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head." Another disciple said to Him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow Me, and let the  dead bury their own dead." (Matthew 8:18-22)

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Martha pulled a phrase from John 15:15: I call you friends, and I will make known to you. The implication, found not just there but throughout the Gospels, is that there are plenty of people eager to be servants, but not so many that are called friends.

A servant does not know his master's business. What a plea for intimacy! The parable of the talents (see Matthew 25:14-30) does a lot of talking about servants. And two of the three servants successfully did the business of trading for the master, but doing the business is not equal to knowing the master's business. Knowing requires "insider knowledge"; it requires private conversation, confidentiality, trust, faith. The strength of true success in God's business is worked out in the private wrestlings of spiritual disciplines like those found in Matthew 6: praying, giving, fasting.

We in the Church are implicated. Serving is second nature to many of us. We have ushered for so long, played music for so long, preached for so long, that it has become routine. We are doing the business, and many of us are excellent at doing the business. But our pastor reminded us, backed by the word of God, that our Jesus has hand-picked some people that He calls friends, and that He has appointed them to know-- to have a depth of understanding that only comes from spending much time in the secret place of prayer. In the proverbial field of barren trees that mark the carnal church, these few friends of Jesus are productive, bearing "fruit that will last".

Jesus is able to look and see who His friends are, where the fruit is, and where the fakes flourish. To the brash and overconfident servants, Jesus says: You think you're able to follow Me wherever I go, without My having equipped you? You think you're able to step in and out of this faith journey as you please? Guys, it doesn't work that way. To the chosen disciples, He says: Follow Me on My terms, and I will prune you so that you become a fruit-bearer for My kingdom. It won't be easy. But you will know Me intimately and we will love each other deeply.

A prophetic plea for 2013: Less rote serving. More real knowing.

"K" Love? "J" Love!

"K", the young man I referred to in a previous blog, pulled off a grand surprise when he proposed to his girlfriend on New Year's morning. It was a joyous moment for him, her, and for the several hundred of us who had stayed through the entire New Year's Eve service.

Beyond the joy, the proposal was a prophetic sign for us as a church. There is Someone who has proposed a life of love to us: the God-Man, Jesus. From Time's beginning He has been meeting and speaking to His people: He shares His love with us privately, and He demonstrates His love to us publicly.

And, amidst the outpouring of this love, He asks a question:
"Will you marry Me?"

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Martha made the connection between the Sermon on the Mount and the Song of Solomon. Jesus, while encouraging His listeners not to worry about clothing, points back to the famed, peace-loving king: Not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these flowers (see Matthew 6:28-29).

Solomon, the king whose wisdom was deeply respected by the kings and queens of the earth; Solomon, the man who kept a harem of women he loved; Solomon, the builder who made sure that God's temple was the grandest house on the planet. We read and marvel at his accomplishments over his forty-year reign.

But, we have a greater King to adore!

• Jesus's reign is eternal: in fact, He is eternal (John 8:58).
• Jesus's temple is the grandest house of all universes: in fact, He is the temple (Revelation 21:22).
• Jesus's love extends backwards and forwards through Time: in fact, He is Love (First John 4:8).
• Jesus's wisdom has been in existence since before the dawn of creation: in fact, He is wisdom (Isaiah 11:1-5).

And what has Jesus said to us in our pastor's prophetic reference to Solomon? You see Solomon looking so nice? I can make a simple flower look more splendid than he. You see Solomon as a man of love and loving words? I love you so much more. "Come away with Me"; "I have loved you with an everlasting love".

The Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) is filled with references of seeking love, losing love, and making love. It points to our own nature: we love God, or we say we love Him, but then we have this tendency to wander off. Or, we get nervous when we can't "feel" His presence. The hymnwriter has caught the solution: When darkness seems to veil His face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand! All other ground is sinking sand. The love of Jesus is eternal. He says, "I am with you always" (see Matthew 28:20), and He keeps His word.

Jesus has presented us a diamond engagement ring, and He has popped the question.
Will you say yes to Him?

The Betrothal!

(Eastern Orthodox prayer rope)

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Martha spoke to us about the importance of the secret place: that is, having an intimate relationship with God that is expressed in private prayer.

Jesus exhorts us to do more than just keep the stated law; He asks us to take a step further by walking in love. Love compels us to relinquish our right for revenge. Love compels us to give without expecting any sort of accolade. Love compels us to walk two miles when only one mile is required.

The Holy Spirit, who is Love, draws us into the wilderness to experience the passion of Christ even though our love for Him is sorely lacking. It is this experience, wrought in secret, that shifts us from being mere servants of God to being His beloved Bride (see Hosea 2:13-20). We learn to love.

Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5 through 7), preaches a message that urges His people to go beyond the basics of the Ten Commandments and to live lives that are completely given over to the Lordship of Christ-- not because of duress, but because of love. His sermonic refrain, "You have heard it said that... but I say to you...", reinforces the purpose of His coming to earth: not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. What the sacrifices of bulls and goats could not accomplish, Christ Jesus has accomplished through His blood. It is a victory foretold through Jewish law, but fulfilled in Jesus's love.

In the time of Jesus's earthly ministry, it was common in Jewish culture to have a special place set aside for intimacy with God through private prayer. Just as a husband and wife were expected to have a room for private expression of their sexual relationship, devout believers were expected to have a dedicated place for private expression of their spiritual relationship with the Father. We catch a glimpse of this in the life of the apostle Peter, who (when staying with Simon the tanner) would retreat to the rooftop for private prayer (see Acts 10:9). What has Jesus said? Go into your room, close the door. Your Father is unseen, and your intimate prayers to Him must be unseen. Peter, who was not in his own home, nonetheless made the rooftop a "room" where he could meet privately with God. Private prayer was a non-negotiable aspect of Peter's life.

What bride avoids conversing one-on-one with a husband who showers her with love and compassion? What bride would spurn his advances? The hallmark of a betrothed woman is that she loves her husband as he loves her: she longs for private times and private spaces shared only with him. As Christians, we are the Bride of Christ. We are His betrothed. And Jesus Himself set the example for us, frequently seeking out private places where He could have intimate, private prayer with His Father.

Interestingly, although these love experiences are a cloistered training ground for the Christian, the results of such experiences are no secret at all. Jesus says, three times, Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you publicly (Matthew 6:4; 6:6; 6:18). What is our Father's reward for those private prayer sessions? A public ministry filled with the power of His Spirit. God will do this for those who, like His Son, lovingly seek after Him and intentionally engage private prayer.

With all of my heart I hunger for You;
All I want and all I seek is true intimacy with You.
Here I stand waiting, Lord,
Touch me now like never before!
Let me change and be transformed:
True intimacy is what I'm longing for.
Intimacy is the longing of my heart, Lord, of this heart!
(Lyrics Eoghan Heaslip. Copyright 1999, Daybreak Music Ltd.)

True Intimacy!

The issue of intimacy with Christ was preached last Saturday by Pastor Richie, this past Sunday by Pastor Martha, and Monday by Pastor Sam.

• It is intimacy that opens the door to prophetic revelation.
• It is intimacy that moves us from being servants of God to being friends of God and lovers of His Christ.
• It is intimacy that brings passion to our Christian walk and changes our rationale for why we do what we do.

Sometimes Christian living is viewed as a simple set of rules—things we ought do, and things we ought not do. The activity of Christianity is understood and expressed as a dutiful response to what God has done for us. So, there is obedience, but there is no real relationship. It is like the child who cleans her room and brushes her teeth not because she is happy to do things that please her father, but because she wishes to avoid the reprimand that might come from him if she did not do these “expected” things.

But, for some Christians, their Christian living is an outflow of their love relationship with God. Our pastors reinforced the point over this past weekend: Intimate love produces joyful obedience. We toss out the list of what we want to have and do, and instead we beg God to place us wherever He chooses so that His program and purpose will be accomplished in the earth. “Lord, do it through us” becomes our prayer.

And yes, we must pray this with a depth of love. When intimacy with God is our passion, even “rote” prayers become infused with His joy. The Lord’s Prayer, so familiar that it seems it could be recited even in our sleep, takes on a new life. It is filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Intimacy with God opens up the eyes to see how precious every petition is. As Reverend Gabbidon so wonderfully instructed us last autumn, even the act of saying “Our Father” reveals the intimacy of our relationship with Christ as our Brother; Jesus is present with us as we petition our Lord God. Who better to stand with us than the One who loved us even before we knew Him?

The sermons we’ve heard over the past weekend beg a question, or perhaps even a series of questions.

Do we love God?

Do we passionately desire to spend time with God?

Is God’s priority our priority?

Do we know, scripturally, what God desires of us and from us?

Does our deep love of God extend to compassionate care for people?

Lord, You have told us countless times that there are a set of people who will live their lives working for You, but on the Great Day will not enter into Your kingdom because You never knew them. Lord, help us to know You. Lord, be our food and drink and air.  Be our rest and our joy. Be our Lover and Companion. Build in us a deep longing for You, a desire that only finds satisfaction in Your Presence. How we love You Lord. Teach us. Keep teaching us. We want You more than anything. We love You.

What A Proposal!

We serve an awesome God! Last night's New Year's Eve service, which ended this morning (shortly after midnight), was a love letter from our Savior to us.

We began the evening with several baptisms. Men and women spoke of their love relationship with Jesus, recognizing the sacrifice He made and publicly affirming their commitment to Him.

One of our young adults presented in spoken word, with an emphasis of the love of God for His people and the opportunity we have to experience His love, and to respond with a love that obeys, serves, and submits to His Lordship.

The video presentation, a modernized account of the Prodigal Son, emphasized the way in which our Father, God, longs to have us "home": secure in Him, satisfied in His presence, saturated in His love.

Divine Mime's ministry was a classic anthem of modern Black American gospel. We are saved and secure because "God blocked it"-- in His love He has protected us from the snares and traps of the devil.

The Bronx Bethany Chorale sang a song based on Revelation 19: praise to God for the fall of Babylon, and praise to God for the marriage of the Lamb to His Bride, the Church.

Bronx Bethany's Chosen sang two songs: one an exclamation of desire to love God and please Him, and the other a declaration that those who truly come to God ought never go back to their old life of sin.

Throughout the evening we heard music and testimonies of God's love, faithfulness, protection, and provision.

Pastor Sam's message focused on the plea of Moses: "Lord, if Your presence does not go with us, we will not go." Our pastor reminded us that as we grow in our love relationship with Jesus, He shows us what our purpose is in the earth.

God is so good. Our Lord capped off the night by allowing us to see a practical example of His extravagant love, as one of the young men in our church proposed to his girlfriend-- who is now his fiancee.

God, through Christ, has proposed to us! He longs to be in relationship with us. Pastor Sam reminded us of Revelation 3:20. Jesus is standing and knocking, and knocking, and knocking. Further, our pastor reminded us that in some cases our Lord has been knocking on the door of our hearts for many years. We can join in the promises given to the churches in Revelation: Jesus is ready to stand with us in our joy, pain, suffering, and hope.

Jesus loves you. This you know.